Disease/Drug of interest:

ELEPHANTIASIS/ DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE(DEC)

Figure 1: Female patient with extreme elephantiasis in legs.

Motivation and Background:

Ever seen the movie The Elephant Man? Is your favorite animal an elephant?

If you answered yes to any of the above, investing in studying Elephantiasis is the right option for you! Elephants are my favorite animal, and to study a disease that has that same word in it is a dream come true.

Yet, the disease isn't a dream. Elephantiasis got its name because the victims' limbs swell up like an elephant's limbs, the lymphatic nodes enlarged and filled with mosquito larva transmitting the Wucheria bancrofti parasite. It affects over 120 million people in 73 countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

References:
Elephantiasis - NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). NORD National Organization for Rare Disorders Elephantiasis Comments, http://rarediseases.org/rarediseases/elephantiasis/ (accessed Feb 6, 2016). 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lymphaticfilariasis/ (accessed Feb 6, 2016). 3. Hajdu, S; Elephantiasis. Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science 2002, 32, (2), 207-209.

External links:

http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/db00711#targets

Target Information:

Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase OR 5-LO

Size: molecular weight of the protein

The protein weight is 304.467 g/mol

Location: Cytoplasm, nucleus matrix, and membranes

Function in a normal cell: Induced expression, and catalyzes first step in leukotriene biosynthesis, playing a role in inflammatory processes and lipid metabolism. NECESSARY for lymphatic system to keep running smoothly.

Drug Information:

Schematic figure of drug:

Figure 2: DEC chemical structure: C10H21N3O

Formula:
C10H21N3O


Molecular weight: 199.3 g/mol
CAS Number:
90-89-1


Delivery method: pill
Side effects:itching, swelling of face and eyes
Other names: camin, carbamzine
Maker or company: Micromidex
Is it patented? yes
Clinical Trials Info: 11 trials involved in effectiveness of treating elephantiasis

Origin:
synthetic derivative of piperazine and used to also treat inflamed lymphatic system in humans and pets

Alternatives to this drug: antibiotics and removal of lymphatic tissue
Miscellaneous: drug only used when it is positive that the parasite caused lymphatic inflammation, not when the lymphatic system is inflamed for other reasons
Other uses: can this drug be used to treat other diseases/conditions?
It is only used for the parasitic cause of the disease.

Figure 3: Patient with extreme elephantiasis in one hand, caused by the parasite.